After stopping by Long Valley Peonies this past weekend I wanted to list a round-up of some of my favorite flower fields and farms we have been to and some that we would love to go to this summer. There are so many farms and festivals within about 2 hours of New York City during the summer so hopefully this list helps you create some fun summer plans. There are a couple of places on this list that peaked in the early spring but I added them anyways so you can save for next year.
April/May
- Wicked Tulips – Preston, CT; Exeter, RI; Johnston, RI – 2.5-3 hours from NYC
- $20-$23 pp admission fee depending on the day of visit + 10 “you-pick” tulips, $5 for kids
- Tickets are needed in advance and must be bought online. No pets are allowed unless they are service animals. They have other events throughout the year including Yoga in the tulips which sounds so peaceful.
Late May/Early June
- Long Valley Peonies – Long Valley, NJ – 1.5 hours from NYC
- $10 pp admission fee, also have peonies for sale. Closed for the season as of June 7th, but you can still purchase peonies online through this weekend. We loved visiting this farm over the weekend and it wasn’t very crowded even for it being the last weekend they were open. We will definitely be back next year. Add to your calendar for 2024!
June
- Terhune Orchards – Princeton, NJ – 1.5 hours from NYC
- Terhune Orchards has a lot for the whole family to do. They have a “pick-your-own” program that changes throughout the seasons. This time of year there are cherries, strawberries, hyacinths, and an assortment of herbs. There is also a farmer’s market and winery on the property.
- No admission fee is listed on the website.
July
- Buttonwood Farms – Griswold, CT – 2.5 hours from NYC
- There usually is a sunflower event at the end of July as part of the Sunflower for Wishes program, but the 2023 event has not been announced. In 2022 it was from July 23-31.
- There are also a lot of events at the farm during the fall season.
- No admission fee to walk the sunflower field, $3 fee to walk in the “cut your own” field. They also have an ice cream shop and everything is made at the farm.
- Lavender by the Bay – East Marion and Calverton, NY – 2.5 hours from NYC *We’ve been to this one and loved it… right outside of Greenport which is an adorable town to visit*
- Two kinds of lavender are grown at this North Fork favorite – English and French. English blooms in mid to late June and French blooms in early July, so the best time to go is when the French lavender blooms so you get to see both. We have been to both locations, but the East Marion location is a little more scenic in my opinion. They have a small shop with a lot of different types of lavender products for sale as well.
- $15-$20 pp admission fee
- Hidden Spring Lavender Farm – Skillman, NJ – 1.5 hours from NYC
- The farm is only open on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer but offers a lot of things to do, including walking through 15 different types of lavender and taking a walk with one of their many ALPACAS (!!!) on the property. They also do private events like weddings or corporate retreats.
- No pets are allowed on the property and a reservation must be made to visit, but there is no admission fee.
- Stony Hill Farms – Chester, NJ – 1 hour from NYC
- Stony Hill Farms is part of the New Jersey Sunflower Festival that runs from July to August. There are two fields of sunflowers – one where you can walk through and take photos and one where you can pick your own sunflowers.
- $20-$45 pp admission fee and each ticket includes live music, at least 1 sunflower, a wagon ride, and free parking. They also have fun kid’s activities like mazes and play areas.
- Hudson Wildflower Co. – Milton, NY – 1.5 hours from NYC
- Opening for the season July 7, 2023, this farm is less than 2 hours from NYC and allows for wildflower lovers to find and create their own bouquet in one of their signature baskets, mason jars, or metal buckets.
- $8 for adults and $5 for kids admission fee (kids still in strollers are free)
